Diwali: A Celebration of Lights and Reflection

It is the festival of happiness,

which is awaited throughout the year.

Children and old people all rejoice

on the day this festival arrives.

Homes, streets, and cities

all get decorated like a bride;

colorful crackers are seen

decorated in all the shops.

Children become grandfather's friends

and bring new crackers.

Foreigners also come to the country,

increasing the joy of the house.

This is the only festival

in which all the backward people get to meet.

The fights between brothers and sisters

about crackers;

we used to get angry

and leave everyone.

When we got scared of the crackers,

we would hide in their sari.

Seeing children bursting sparklers and crackers

brings back hazy memories.

All the fun of childhood

is remembered in just a few moments.

Earlier, Diwali was celebrated in one house;

now, it is celebrated in every house.

The house that was once known

by one name is now known by four or five names.

But in some houses, only diyas burn,

and there is never light.

A mother waits for her child

and lights the lamp of her eyes

with tears instead of oil,

and with her heart instead of a wick.

In the pursuit of celebration,

we forget the real happiness.

We bring clothes for everyone

and forget our parents—

those who reduced their own clothes

and fulfilled our wishes,

went beyond the desires of the mind

and satisfied our needs.

Ignoring their own needs,

they fulfilled ours.

Perhaps that is why we also ignored

their happiness,

giving the name of happiness

to their helplessness.

There was a dark house in the corner,

and the Deepak struggled with the darkness.

There was just enough money,

but a shortage of oil;

the child's insistence kept the lamp lit,

and the mother's love satiated the child's hunger.

In this struggle of poverty,

both were fighting:

the child with hunger

and the Deepak with darkness.

We are very fond of changing customs and traditions,

of being called modern in every matter.

Let's change a tradition:

instead of bursting crackers,

let’s use that money

to distribute clothes and sweets

to our poor brothers.

In this way, let’s not just celebrate Diwali at home,

but throughout India.